Laurel Ann Chandler Severance passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior on May 30, 2024, at the Autumn House Memory Care facility in Viera, Fla.

She was born on May 10, 1950, in Norway, the daughter of Phillip B. Chandler and Grace Z. (Weymouth) Chandler. Laurie, as friends and family more commonly called her, grew up in Bridgton, and graduated from Bridgton High School, class of 1968.

She attended Plus Gray Business School and USM and worked as a secretary to the SAD 72 school nurse in Fryeburg for many years. Laurie was also a correspondent and photographer for The Bridgton News combining her lifelong love of photography and writing.

Laurie began playing flute in middle school and began playing in the Bridgton Community Band while in high school. She continued playing until 2018 and was one of the longest performing members of the band.

In 1983, she applied for a job processing real estate photos for William Severance, Realtors in Center Lovell and soon fell in love with the owner, William (Bill) Severance Jr. In the fall of 1983, Laurie accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and became a member of the Bridgton Alliance Church along with Bill. They were married at the church on August 11, 1984, and moved to Stoneham, Maine.

She soon joined Stoneham Rescue, trained, and was licensed as a Basic EMT to join husband Bill, who was then chief of the volunteer service, responding to many calls until both she and Bill retired in 1994. She also served as the public relations coordinator for Stoneham Rescue.

In 1992, both Laurie and Bill began working with the newly-formed community access television channel, Lake Region TV in Bridgton. The skilled photographer took quickly to videography and helped record hundreds of community events, concerts, and programs of interest often along with Bill and her parents who also joined LRTV as volunteers. She also served as the publicity coordinator for LRTV.

Beginning in 1992, Laurie and Bill began taking a series of cross-country trips in their minivan eventually visiting all 50 states and all but two Canadian provinces. Laurie carefully documented each trip with thousands of photos, being especially careful to photograph every state welcome sign.

In 2005, Laurie and Bill moved to a home in Bridgton to be closer to their church and other interests.

In 2001, Laurie and Bill purchased an RV and began wintering in Florida – Fort Myers, Sarasota, Crystal River and finally Titusville at The Great Outdoors (TGO) for the past 15 winters. There, Laurie made many friends in the community and was active in the TGO Fun Band, Doggy World, and the Great Outdoors Community Church where she was a member. In 2022, as RVing became too difficult for Laurie, she and Bill purchased a home at TGO with the intention of making a permanent move there from Bridgton in the fall of 2024.

Laurie enjoyed spending time at Highland Lake with her brother’s family and friends, photography and videography, scrapbooking, music, travel, and, perhaps most of all, her many dogs and cats.

She was predeceased by her parents, Phillip and Grace Chandler.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, William Severance Jr. of Bridgton and Titusville, Fla.; a brother, Jack Chandler and his wife, Deb Chandler of Bridgton; niece Lyndsey Lachance, her husband Ryan Lachance and son Cody of Brunswick; niece Angel Thayer and her husband Greg Thayer and daughters Amanda and Alexa of New Gloucester; nephew Dylan Chandler and his wife Sarah of Gray; and cousins Jackie Weymouth of Gettysburg, PA, Sue Weymouth and her son Garrett Beck of Herndon, VA; and Roy Weymouth of Delray Beach, FL and Star Lake, NY.

The family would like to thank Autumn House Memory Care of Viera, FL and Health First Hospice of Melbourne, FL for their compassionate care during Laurie’s final months.

Arrangements are under the care of North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville, Fla.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at the Bridgton Alliance Church, 368 Harrison Road, Bridgton, Maine. A reception will follow the service. A private interment ceremony will be held in the Memorial Garden at the Great Outdoors Community Church in Titusville, Fla., in the late fall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, 1389 Bridgton Rd., Fryeburg, ME 04037.

Condolences, tributes and photo upload may be done online at https://www.northbrevardfuneralhome.com/tributes/ Laurel-Severance.